Aerial vessel



. Oct- 19, 1926.

J. BOWIE AERIAL VESSEL Filed July v, 1925 FIG. I.

I N.VENT'OR- James Bowi BYflEu IQ M ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 19, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES BOWIE, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

AERIAL VESSEL.

Application filed July 7, 1925, Serial No. 41,945, and in Great Britain July 17, 1924.

My invention relates to aerial vessels of the heavier-than-air type provided with horizontal and vertical propellers, and intended for starting from, and alighting on, the water, and has for its object to improve the construction of such vessels more particularly as to the positioning of the vertical propellers and means in connection with same.

In carrying out my invention the vessel is made with a raised platform amidships extending the full length of the vessel, and the vertical propellers are arranged in three rows, one row, of ordinary construction, on the raised platform, and a row on each side at a lower level. The lower part of each propeller, of each side row, is circular and projects into a circular groove on the deck, the latter having a passage formed in it which communicates with a chute which projects down through the vessel, said chute tapering away towards its lower end, to which any suitable type of controlling closure is applied.

In order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter referred to in describing my invention.

Figure 1, is a plan, showing a part of the bow and stern of the vessel. Figure 2, is a cross section on the dotted line Figure 1. Figure 3, is a side elevation. Fi ure 4, is a plan of the chute, drawn to a arger size, and Figure 5, is a vertical section. In these drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever they occur.

As shown in Figure 1, of the drawings, the vessel is provided with a number of propellers, rotating on a vertical axis, and divided into three rows. Each unit consists of five propellers 1, 2, 3, 4: and 5, one in the centre and two on each side thereof. In the side rows, each propeller is approximately cone-shaped near its base, and is provided with an outwardly extending flange 6, working in a circular recess 7 (Figure 5). Directly below each propeller, in the side rows, is a tapered chute 8, the lower end of which is provided with a hinged cover 9, so that when the vessel alights on the water the hinged cover is closed, thus increasing the buoyancy of the vessel. The cover 9, is provided with a counterweight 18, whereby the cover is automatically opened as the vessel ascends.

The vessel is also provided with propellers 10 and 11, and 12 and 13, at each end of the vessel respectively, said propellers rotating on a horizontal axis, and also with two rudders 14, and 15, one for steering when flying, and the other when afloat.

The vessel is provided with tanks 16, which forms a double bottom, said tanks being used as oil-fuel containers and also for water ballast. The engines are arranged in casings 17, on deck, each engine driving five vertical propellers, one in the centre and two on each side, and the engine may draw its fuel from a tank adjacent thereto.

The propellers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, with their engine forms a complete unit, and any number of these units may be employed dependinggon the size of the vessel.

y constructing the propellers, in the side rows, as just described, the air drawn in flows into and is forced down throughthe tapered chutes, thus substantially increasing the lifting power of these propellers. Ball or roller bearings may be employed wherever practicable.

What I claim is The combination with a vessel of the heavier-than-air type, of horizontal and vertical propellers, the vertical propellers comprising a center row and two side rows, the center row being at a higher level than the side rows, and a downwardly depending normal- 1y open-ended tapered chute disposed below and communicating with each propeller in the side rows, whereby the air drawn in by said propellers is forced into and through said chutes.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JAMES BOWIE. 

